Apparatus for identifying individual wires of a multi-wire cable

ABSTRACT

A wire detector for determining a pre-established designation of a wire in a random bundle of wires forming a cable and attached to a cable connector at one end thereof comprising, a means for receiving said connector for connecting each wire to an encoding network to cause a signal from a particular wire randomly contacted to illuminate a display for designating that wire. The detector incorporates a capability for detecting specific wires in the bundle by excluding all other wires from electronic consideration and is further equipped with a sensitive circuit and an appropriate signal source for performing the detection of a wire by contact and conduction through the body of a user.

United States Patent 1191 Schag et al.

[ 1 June 19, 1973 APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL WIRES OF AMULTl-WIRE C BLE [75] Inventors: Ronald B. Schag, Orange; David M.

Landis, Fullerton, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation,

Elizabeth, NJ.

221 Filed: June 15, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 46,424

[52] U.S. Cl. 324/66, 324/51 [51] Int. Cl G01r 19/16, GOlr 31/02 [58]Field of Search 324/51, 66, 73, 133;

[56] v 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1961 Beck 324/543,183,439 5/1965 Rosinek 324/133 X Primary ExaminerGerard R. StreckerAttorney-David Teschner and Jesse Woldman [57] ABSTRACT A wire detectorfor determining a pre-established designation of a wire in a randombundle of wires forming a cable and attached to a cable connector at oneend thereof comprising, a means for receiving said connector forconnecting each wire to an encoding network to cause a signal from aparticular wire randomly contacted to illuminate a display fordesignating that wire. The detector incorporates a capability fordetecting specific wires in the bundle by excluding all other wires fromelectronic consideration and is further equipped with a sensitivecircuit and an appropriate signal source for performing the detection ofa wire by contact and conduction through the body of a user.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUNI 9:913

SHEET 1 0? 3 |o2 so 3 HUNDREDS /DR|vER (94 TENS 94 DRIVER 94 94 TENSANTS SW|TCH\ DRIVER U UNIT INVENTOR. D/DRIVER RONALD H. SCHAG HUNDREDS-DAVID M. LANDIS SWITCH BY f GEORGE E BETHEL PATENIEDJUMQW amass SEEN QQ? 3 v INVENTOR. v RONALD H. SCHAG m BY DAVID M. LANDIS GEORGE F. BETHELAPPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL WIRES OF A MULTI-WIRE CABLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tiplicity of wires which are soldered,wrapped or crimped on specifically designated terminals. The terminalsmay be connected separately to discretely designated terminals at oneend of a cable and affixed to a connector at the other end. In otherinstances the terminals can be connected at either end to a connectorwhich is to be plugged into an accommodating receptacle for making aseries of removable electrical connections between two points.

It is customary to predesignate wires emanating from one particular areaor point so that they can be identified as a remote point to which theyare to be connected or soldered. Oftentimes the remote point issubstantially removed from where the wires originate. Thus, when thewires are placed in a large cable or bundle, they are difficult torecognize.

Prior methods of designating wires have been by means of colors,numbers, or other marking symbols or tags. As can be appreciated, whenthere are a great multiplicity of wires within a bundle, theidentification scheme can be confusing and not effectuate an appropriateand facile determination of the wire designations. This has beenparticularly true when a large'bundie of wires has been connected to aplurality of connection points and led in bundle form, a harness or aconduit to a distant location for connection in a predesignated manner.

Prior art methods for determining the designation of a particular wirein a large bundle are cumbersome at best. Some methods rely uponelectrically contacting a buzzer at the loose end of a wire in a bundleand completing an electrical loop through the cable such that the buzzerwill sound, when the loop has been closed. Other methods involvecontacting a wire at a loose end of a bundle to a filament lamp andcompleting an electrical loop thereby illuminating the lamp.

As can be appreciated, the foregoing methods are time consuming andrepetitious, and must be carried out by the tedious process ofelimination. For example, in a bundle of a hundred wires when thedesignation of each wire is sought, one would have to make contact witheach individual wire an average of 29 times for a total of approximately2,900 individual contacts to identify only 100 wires. The foregoingmethods of determining the designation of a wire in a loose bundle orcable are not only time consuming but inaccurate.

To effectuate prior art methods of wire identification and designation,it is oftentimes necessary to strip the ends of the wire to makecontact. Some methods employ clip leads which oftentimes are driventhrough the insulation of a wire, which can substantially damage thewire. Even if a clip lead is used at the end of a stripped piece ofwire, it can severely damage the wire by virtue of the abrasive orcutting action of a clip lead.

Other methods have been utilized to designate a wire by means of aprobe. In some cases the probe is used to penetrate a bundle of wires sothat an induced current can flow through the probe and create a signalto designate a wire. Other probes utilize and rely upon a sharp point topenetrate the insulation of a wire in order to provide a completedcircuit for the designation of that particular wire which is penetrated.Such methods damage the insulation of a wire as well as oftentimesfatiguing them in an intolerable manner.

The instant invention overcomes the foregoing deficiencies of the priorart, as well as many others which have not been enumerated. Theinvention enables one to identify a predesignated wire in a loose bundleby merely touching the wire with the finger.

This invention also enables a discrete and specific identification of aparticular wire within a bundle of wires by causing only the specificwire to produce a display. To cause the specific display, the inventionincorporates a selection device which enables one to select a particularpredesignated wire and locate that wire within a bundle by way of areadout system which functions in connection with the invention hereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises apparatus fordisplayinga predesignated symbol of a wire by means of a readout whichdisplays a digital or symbolic representation for the wire sought. Theinvention accomplishes the display be means of an electronically encodednetwork and support apparatus which causes a signal received from abundle of wires to register and display a designatory symbol for aparticular wire. The encoding circuitry subdivides a signal in adiscriminatory manner to provide balanced electrical signals to theappropriate display drivers. A given display driver causes a visualdisplay to show the appropriate symbol which identities in part thepredesignated wire.

The electrical current received by the encoding circuitry is provided bya low level source in contact with the loose end of a wire to bedetected. The low level source can be conducted through the wire bymeans of body contact for operation of the invention. Body contact byway of a finger or hand conducts a sufficient current to complete acircuit through a novel wrist strap hereof which is utilized to conductthe low level current source from the invention. By merely handling abundle of wires in a normal manner such as one would when picking up awire, a designation of a wire can be determined without the need for aspecial contacting medium, clips, probes, or other cumbersome apparatus.

To facilitate the identification of a wire designation, it is merelynecessary to contact any one of the wires and a symbolic representationof that wire will be visually displayed.

Additionally, the invention incorporates a feature whereby a display ofonly those wires specifically sought in a bundle can be obtained bymeans of a selector capability in this invention. More specifically, theinvention allows a particular predesignated symbol to be set as to thedisplay elements of the invention. Thereafter, only when the particularwire of such designation has been contacted, will the display light.

In summation, this invention permits the random selection of any wirewithin a bundle of wires to be displayed, and additionally provides adisplay of only one distinct predesignated wire.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the selector capability and circuitry ofthis invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention along line 5-5 ofFIG. 2; and,

FIG. 6 shows a partially representative schematic view of the circuitryof this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Looking specifically at FIG. 1,a view is shown of a cable detector 10 embodying this invention. Thedetector 10 has a power cord 12 leading thereinto for purposes ofserving the detector 10 with its power needs. The power supplied throughthe cord 12 can be a standard 60 cycle 110 volt alternating current.

Along one side of the detector are a series of sockets or receptacles14, 16, 18 and 20 which receive a plug 22 having a series of wires in abundle 24. Each discrete wire forming the bundle 24 usually has aparticular representative symbol, or other suitable designation foridentification. In the instant case, the wires have numericaldesignations which are used to identify the wires for connection to aspecifically designated point where the wire is to be soldered, wrappedor crimped. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a discrete wire 26 is shownbeing contacted 'by the index finger of a user.

.The user of the device by contacting the wire 26 causes the conductionof a low level electrical current through a portion of his body into thedetector 10.

Conduction through the body is performed by a connection such as a wriststrap 28 wrapped around a users wrist 30 having a wire 32 connectedthereto for the transmission of a signal from a jack 34. The sensitivityof the jack connection 34 and signal level is adjusted by means of apotentiometer connected to a knob 37. When a wire is contacted atrandom, the designation of the predesignated wire on a numerical basisis displayed through an opening 38 by way of numeric display tubes. Thenumeric display tubes can be provided as a hundreds tube 40, a tens tube42 and a units tube 44 as shown in FIG. 5, which represents a detectorcapable of detecting wires in a bundle of 100 or more. In order todetect and display a particular designated wire, a set of switches areutilized so that all other portions of the encoding circuitry whichwould display the wires at random are clamped down, thereby allowingonlyone particular predesignated wire to be displayed. The switchesutilized fora display of only one preselected wire shall be referred toas the selector switches and incorporate a standard wiper switch knownin the art. In order to select a specific numerically designated symbolincorporating hundreds, tens or units, by way of the respective switchesclamping down the unsought numerical circuitry, the respective selectorswitches 46, 48 and 50 are provided.

To facilitate ease of operation of the detector between 21 random ordiscrete wire search operation, a mode switch 52 is provided. The modesprovided by switch 52 allow for a random detection of the wires in abundle; the selective detection by way of the selector switches 46, 48and 50; or a display of the selector switch settings. For further easeof operation, a random switch 54 and a selector display switch 56 whichcomprise push buttons that function only when depressed are provided.The push buttons allow the random or selector display capability of thedevice to function without the necessity of turning the mode selectionswitch 52.

Explanation will now be more specifically directed toward the remainingfigures of the drawing as they relate to not only the support apparatusand configuration of the specific embodiment shown, but also theexemplary schematic drawings of FIGS. 3 and 6.

A casing 60 is shown made for a steel or plastic molding. The opening 38in the case has a bezel glass 62 for viewing the display. The bezelglass 62 is maintained in place by a bezel plate 66 surrounding thebezel glass 62. Interiorly of the casing 60 is a chassis 68 which issecured to the casing 60 by means of screws or any other suitableconnection. The chassis 68 has rubber cushions 70 upon which it rests.The rubber cushions 70 are secured to the chassis 68 by means of bolts72 having nuts 74 (see FIG. 5) threaded thereover for securing thecushions 70 to the chassis.

The chassis 68 serves to support the various circuit boards which shallbe described as well as the other components of this invention. In orderto utilize the power from the line 12 coming into the detector, a powertransformer 76 is interconnected between the line 12 and circuitry. Thepower transformer 76 is in part secured to the chassis by way of a screw78 and nut 80 thereover. A power supply 76a (see FIG. 6) comprising thepower transformer 76, a rectifier as well as other components toproperly bias the active electronic elements of the circuit. The powersupply 76a provides power for the numeric display tubes and the activecomponents on lines 130 and 128 of the circuitry with reference to acircuit ground 82. In order to show a display, three numeric displaytubes 40, 42 and 44 (see FIG. 5) are provided which are connected toregister predesignated numeric symbols of the wires in a cable.

' In order to display the numeric designations or any otherpredesignated symbols on the tubes 40, 42 and 44, the followingapparatus is utilized. In an embodiment, which is not represented by theschematic representation of FIG. 6, for purposes of explanation, fourmatrix boards 82, 84, 86 and 88 (see FIG. 2) are provided. The fourmatrix boards 82, 84, 86 and 88 are connected to input connectionsockets l4, 16, 18 and 20. The input connection sockets 14, 16, 18 and20 are such that they can receive a 50-pin connector 22 insertedtherein. The matrix boards are serviced by a mother board 90 which isconnected to a driver board 92. The driver board 92 (see FIG. 4) as willbe explained in the exemplary circuit in FIG. 6 serves to drive thenumeric display representations of the tubes 40, 42 and 44.

The matrix boards 82, 8,4, 86 and 88 generally comprise a plurality ofsignal diodes 94 which serve to encode a specific signal for a readouton the display tubes 40, 42 and 44. The sockets 14, 16, I8 and 20 whichreceive the respective plugs 22 connected to the wires 24 that are to beidentified, are connected to each one of the diodes of the matrix boardsin the mannershown in FIG. 6. The encoding provided by the circuitry inFIG.

6 will be expanded upon. However, in the meantime, it is sufficient tosay that the encoded signal from the connection provided by theconnection sockets 14, 16, 18 and 20 are discrete signals sent to thedriver board 92 which causes the tubes 40, 42 and 44 to identify anddisplay the proper designation of the wire 26 within the bundle or cable24.

The driver board 92 comprises a series of secondary encoding diodes 100which are in turn connected with a piggyback board consisting of displayand clamping diodes 102 and resistors 164 to the other portions of thecircuit comprising resistors 106 which are utilized for current balancein the circuit, and resistors 108 and 110 which return to circuit groundto provide a leakage return path for the transistors of the circuit. Thedriving portion of the system comprises a first input transistor 112connected to an output transistor 114 which directly drives each portionof the numeric display tubes 40, 42 and 44. Power for the foregoingnumeric display tubes 40, 42 and 44 is supplied by an electroliticcapacitor 116 which acts as a ripple filter for rectified AC power fromthe transformer 76.

In order to properly supply the detector with the power from line 12, astrip or tie point 120 is utilized (see FIG. 5). The strip or tie point120 is attached to the chassis 68 with a metal strapping 122 secured tothe screw 72 by a nut 74. To adequately limit the incoming source ofpower delivered by the line 12, a fuse 124 is connected in series withthe high side of the line by a connection 126 thereacross.

Looking more specifically at the exemplary schematic of FIG. 6, it isseen that the power is introduced in the form of usable DC potentialsacross the lines 128 and 130 with respect to circuit ground 82. Forpurposes of illustration a connector plug 22 is shown partially brokenout in fragmented form as a connector strip 132. The connector strip 132is in effect a portion of the input plug 22 having a plurality of wires24 attached thereto. The connector strip 132 has a series of terminalswhich would normally be a plug 22 inserted into one of the sockets 14,16, 18 and 20. The cable 24 has a series of wires, and for this examplethe wires of the cable 24 shall be predesignated with symbols andidentified as having wires 25, 26, 35 and 36. It should be understoodthat in the detector exemplified by the circuitry of FIG. 6, utilizingtwo tubes 42 and 44, that only up to 99 wires can be detected andidentified.

Leading from the connection strip 132, a series of resistors for eachline 134, 136, 138 and 140 are provided, to limit the current in thoselines.

In order to encode or operate the circuitry of the detector '10, adriver scheme is utilized which incorporates input transistors 112 andoutput transistors 114. The input transistors 112 and output transistors114 are connected to the cathodes of the numeric display tubes 42 and 44through the collector of each respective output transistor 1 14. Thecathodes of the numeric display tubes 42 and 44 are designated with therespective symbols that they represent. The numeric display tube 42serves to display the tens decade whereas tube 44 serves to display theunits decade. The designated symbols shown for purposes of illustrationof the tens tube 42 are 2 and 3, and those of the units tube 44 are 5and 6. The foregoing cathodes for displaying the numerals 2, 3, 5 and 6are connected to the appropriate collectors of the output transistors114 whereby the DC potential on line 130 through appropriate limitingresistors 4'7 and 49 produce the necessary anode potentials at points 43and 45. Thus, the cathode elements 2, 3, 5 and 6 display the appropriatenumeric symbolism when the respective associated input line 25, 26, 35or 36 receives a signal.

Looking more specifically at the selector switches of the device, twoswitches 46 and 48 of the device are shown with their respective wiperplates 146 and 148 shown in FIG. 6. The wiper plates 146 and 148 contacta series of wiper contacts 150 and 152. The wiper contacts 150 and 152are each connected to the encoding lines symbolizing wires within thecable 24. Each wiper plate 146 and 148 has a peripheral gap 154 and 156,respectively thereon so that it effectively bypasses the one wipercontact than aligned with each of the gaps 154 and 156. Thus, in theselective detection mode of operation, one of the wiper contacts is outof contact with the wiper plates 146 and 148.

When a user desires to determine at random which wire in the bundle 24he is contacting, he turns the mode switch 52 to the position for randomdisplay indicated by the letter R on switch 52. When a user desires tolocate a particular wire designation which has been chosen by virtue ofthe switches 46 and 48 clamping down all but the wire being searchedfor, the user turns the switch to the search position designated by S onswitch 52. In order to effectively display the specific numericaldesignation to which the switches 46 and 48 have been dialed to, it isnecessary to turn the switch 52 to the display position indicated by D.The display position shows the numerically designated position to whichthe switches 46 and 48 have been moved by virtue of the fact that thegaps 154 and 156 in the wiper plates 146 and 148 permit the respectivedesignated symbol to be displayed through the use of the alternativecircuit providing current to the drivers as will be described.

As a specific illustration, when a user desires to determine at randomwhich particular wire bearing a numerical designation 26 in a group ofwires he has contacted with his finger or other device, he switches themode switch 52 to the random mode R. When the mode switch 52 is switchedto the random mode R, the selector switches 46 and 48 with the plates146 and 148 are bypassed. Thus, when the user contacts the wire 26 withhis index finger as shown in FIG. 1, a current originating from theoutput jack 34, passes through the wire 32, the wrist strap contact 28and the hand of the user thereby entering the wire 26. The currentpasses through wire 26 to connector strip 132 and the output fromconnector strip 132, limited by resistor 136 is passed to a diode 94.The signal current is then encoded through the diodes 94 and amplifiedby transistors 112 and 114 to operate the numeric display tubes 42, 44for a display of the designation of the wire so contacted, in this casethe wire designated 26.

The sensitivity of the system can be adjusted by turning the knob 37which serves to cause a potentiometer wiper 164 to move across aresistance 166 thereby creating a variable source potential for jack 34.If the user cares to, he can plug into the jack 168, which is connecteddirectly to the source potential for the sensitivity control, thuseliminating such control.

RANDOM OPERATION When the circuit is in the random mode by virtue of theswitch 52 being turned to the open position as indicated by the letterR, the operative characteristics and apparatus to drive the numericdisplay tubes 42 and 44 function as follows. If wire 25 is touched by auser thereby completing a loop through his body, exemplified by aresistance 179, an input current is received on line 180. The inputcurrent on line 180 is bifurcated at connection point 82 by virtue ofthe balancing resistors 186 and 196 which equalize the branch impedance.It should be understood that the amount flowing in each line afterbifurcation of the current is a function of the diode, line andcomponent characteristics. The bifurcated signal is received by inputtransistors 112 at points 184 and 198. The input transistors 112,connected to points 184 and 198 are provided with balanced currentsthrough resistors 186 and 196 and biased by resistors 188 and 190, and188 and 200 respectively. The collectors of all of the input transistors112 are biased through a resistor 192. The emitter side of the inputtransistors are connected to the bases of their respective outputtransistors 114. In this specific case relating to the operation of theinvention with respect to the identification of the wire designation 25,the collectors of the output transistors 114 are connected to cathodenumber two of the numeric display tube 42 and number five of the numericdisplay tube 44. Thus, when a current is received on line 180 andbifurcated at point 182, points 184 and'198 receive the split currentwhich is amplified by the respective input and output transistors 112and 114 connected to points 184 and 198, thereby producing a display oftwo in the tens tube 42 and five in units tube 44.

The foregoing circuit is biased at the emitters of the respective outputtransistors 114 by a diode 202 which is connected to circuit ground.

In summation, a readout of the wire sought to be identified is providedwhen the switch 52 is in the random mode R. The identified readout isprovided by the signal diodes 94 connected to appropriate drivers in theform of the transistors 1 12, 114 to effectively cause the tens and theunits cathodes of the numeric display tubes 42 and 44 to be illuminated.

SEARCH OPERATION The exemplary schematic of FIG. 6 shows switch 52 inthesearch position, S. Thus, when a particular wire designation issought, by way of the selector switches 46 and 48 being dialed to aspecific wire designation, all other display designations on the numericdisplay tubes 42 and 44 will not display, and only the specific wirebeing sought will have its designation appear on the numeric displaytubes. The foregoing function is provided by the circuit clamping actionof the switches 46 and 48 which effectively cause all but the specificwire designation sought, to be eliminated from the display circuitry.

The search mode utilizes gaps 154 and 156 on the wiper plates 146 and148 to remove from contact, the wiper contacts 13 and 16 respectively.The wiper contacts 13 and 16 which are not in contact with the plates146 and 148 specifically in this case represent a tens three and a unitssix.

Looking more specifically at a wire in the bundle or cable 24 which isdesignated 36 it can be seen that the signal therefrom is bifurcated atpoint 210. One line to which the bifurcated signal flows is connected topoint 212 which is in turn connected to the units six wiper contact 16through a diode 94a. The line connecting the wiper contact 16 isadjacent the space 156 of the wiper plate 148. The point 212 is alsoconnected to point 213 which allows a signal to be received at point 214through a current balancing resistor 216. The signal at point 214 isimpressed on the base of the input transistor 112 connected thereto. Theemitter of the output transistor 114 connected to the selected inputtransistor 112 is biased by diode 202 to circuit ground. The collectorthereof is connected to the units six designated 6 of the numericdisplay tube 44 to indicate a display thereof.

The signal which is bifurcated at point 210, is also received at point222 where the current has two alternative routes to travel. If the tensthree were clamped to the wiper plate 146 by its wiper 13 being placedin contact therewith, the entire input current would pass from point 210through a diode 94 to point 222, through a diode 94a and then to thewiper plate 146 which is connected to the bias diode 202 through modeswitch 52.

However, inasmuch as an adjacent portion of the wiper plate 148 is openat point 154, the current will be properly bifurcated and theappropriate portion;will enter point 224 and thereafter to point 226through resistor 228.

Point 226 is connected to the base of an input transistor'112. Thecollector of the input transistor is biased through resistor 192 as inthe case of the other input transistors 112, and the emitter thereof isconnected to the base of an output transistor 114. The collector of theoutput transistor is connected to the tens three of the numeric displaytube 42 which is lit when line 36 in the foregoing search mode exampleis contacted.

When wire 36 is connected and contacted by a users finger as shown inFIG. 1, the numeric display tubes 42 and 44 indicate the display of a 36thereon. Thus, one can contact the ends of the complete bundle of wires24 with his hand and an indication of a specific wire will not bedisplayed until that wire which has been indicated by the placement ofthe switches 46 and 48 is contacted. In this case, the switches 46 and48 have been turned to a tens three and a units six thereby indicating a36 as the wire to be searched for. Upon the wire being contacted, thenumeric display tube 42 and 44 display that particular wire designation.

DISPLAY MODE It is sometimes desirable to place numeric designations onthe periphery of the switches 46, 48 and 50, in order to indicate to theoperator the specific position of the switches. However, as can beappreciated, when an operator is concerned with looking at the specificdial placement of each particular switch 46, 48 and 50 it is difficultto determine exactly what designations switches are set to. Therefore,this invention provides what is known as a display mode effectuated byturning the mode switch 52 to the D position. When the switch is in theD position it causes the invention to show the designation to which theswitches 46 and 48 have been dialed.

An example of the foregoing is when the switches 46 and 48 have beendialed into the positions as shown whereby a tens three and a units sixis set thereon. When the switches 46 and 48 are in that position, andthe mode switch 52 is in the D or display position, the tens three andthe units six will be displayed on the numeric display tubes 42 and 44.This is by reason of the fact that the current is permitted to flow frompower supply 76a via mode switch 52, through the resistors 252, 254, 256and 258 which are connected to their respective signal diodes 94. Inthis position all currents will flow through the wiper contacts 150 and152 by virtue of being in contact with wiper plates, 146 and 148, exceptfor wiper contacts 13 and 16 adjacent gaps 154 and 156 in the respectivewiper plates. Thus, the current which is received through the resistors254 and 258 will not flow to the circuit ground via divide 202 but willflow to points 226 and 214 whereby a tens three and a units six will bedisplayed as a 36.

The display setting D of the dials 46 and 48 vastly increase thefacility to operate the invention so that one does not have to look atthe dial setting, or placement of the switches 46 and 48. In effect onemerely has to look at the bezel glass 62 to determine where theplacement of the switches are, as to a particular designation of a wireto be detected thereby.

The foregoing illustration of the specific embodiment of this inventionhas illustrated only a units and tens system. Thus, the embodiment isonly able to detect wires within a units and tens series of connections.As can be appreciated, this invention can incorporate a series ofmatrixes utilizing another series of drivers and particular circuitry toincrease the reading from a units and tens series up to a units, tensand hundreds series or higher. In FIG. 3 a scheme for this utilizationis shown incorporating a units switch 300, a tens switch 302 and ahundreds switch 304. The units, tens and hundreds switches 300, 302 and304 are respectively connected through the signal diodes 94a to drivers306, 308 and 310 which respectively drive the numeric display tubes U, Tand H for the respective units, tens and hundreds displays. The systemeffectively incorporates signal diodes 94 to encode the signal flowthrough the circuit in an analagous manner as the scheme of FIG. 6.Furthermore, diodes 94a are utilized in an analagous manner as in FIG. 6to effectuate the selective and display modes as provided by switch 52.

The switching scheme provided by the switches 46, 48 and 50 may bereplaced by an electronic scanner which is capable of scanningsequentially across all wires and stopping on any line that has a signalon it. Such a scanner may be preset to a particular number and advancedeither up or down from that number by a foot switch, or other suitableswitching means.

The foregoing specification contains a written description of theinvention and of the manner of making and using it in full, clear,concise and exact terms to enable anyone skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, as well as setting forth the bestmode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.However, the invention should not be limited by the foregoingspecification. Instead,the scope and spirit of the invention should onlybe read in light of the following claims, which particularly point outand distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for identifying an individual wire in a bundle of wiresof the type having connector means for receiving the first ends of thewires in a bundle of wires, encoding means coupled to said connectormeans for assigning arbitrary identifying indicia to each of the wiresofa bundle of wires at said connector means, display means coupled tosaid encoding means for selectively displaying said arbitraryidentifying indicia, and

power supply means coupled to said encoding and display means, theimprovement comprising: a variable low level signal source coupled tosaid power supply means for providing a low level signal; probe meanscoupled to said variable low level signal source for coupling said lowlevel signal to at least a portion of the body of a user for theselective transmission of said low level signal through the body of auser to selective wires in said bundle touched by the body of the userto render the body an extension of said probe means; means forselectively varying the level of said variable low level signal source;said encoding means being arranged to detect the presence of said lowlevel signal upon the completion of a closed circuit path from said lowlevel signal source, through, said probe means, the body of a user, atleast one wire in a bundle of wires, and said connector means to saidencoding means wherein when a portion of the body of a user is broughtinto contact with the second end of a wire, a closed current conductingpath is established from said variable low level signal source, throughsaid probe means, the body ofa user, a wire in a bundle of wires andsaid connector means to said encoding means to cause the arbitraryidentifying indicia assigned to such wire to be displayed; selectivelyoperable selection means coupled to said encoding means to permit saidencoding means to operate only with the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia and suppressing all others wherein only a selected arbitraryidentifying indicia is displayed by said display means when said currentpath is completed employing the individual wire in the wire bundleassigned the selected arbitrary identifying indicia; and amulti-position mode selection switch coupled to said power supply, saidselection means and said encoding means, said mode selection switchhaving a first position disabling said selection means to permit thearbitrary identifying indicia of any wire completing the current path tobe displayed and a second position selectively disabling said encodingmeans to permit the arbitrary identifying indicia of only a selectedwire to be displayed when it completes the current path.

2. The improvement as defined in claim I wherein said multi-positionmode selection switch has a third position uncoupling said probe meansfrom said power supply to display the arbitrary identifying indicia towhich said selection means has been operated.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said probe meansfurther comprises: electrode means arranged for intimate contact withthe skin of the body of a user for impressing thereupon said low levelsignal; coupling means for coupling said electrode means to the skin ofthe body of a user; and conductor means coupled to said variable lowlevel signal source and said electrode means for conducting said lowlevel signal from said variable low level signal source to saidelectrode means.

4. The improvement as defined in claim I wherein said probe meansfurther comprises: a conductive electrode means arranged for intimatecontact with the skin of the body of a user for impressing thereuponsaid low level signal; an insulating strap coupled to said electrodemeans for attachment about the wrist of the user to render the skin ofthe user from the wrist to the finger tips selectively conductive ofsaid variable low level signal; and conductor means coupled to saidvariable low level signal source and said electrode means for conductingsaid low level signal from said variable low level signal source to saidelectrode means.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said variable lowlevel signal source is a high frequency signal source; and said probemeans further comprises electrode means arranged for intimate contactwith the skin of the body of a user for impressing thereupon a low levelhigh frequency signal generated by said high frequency signal source,coupling means for coupling said electrode means to the skin of a user,and conductor means coupled to said variable low level, high frequencysignal source and said electrode means for conducting said low level,high frequency signal from said variable low level, high frequencysignal source to said electrode means rendering said portion of the bodyof a user a capacitive probev 6. The improvement as defined in claim 1,wherein said encoding means is a matrix comprising: a plurality of inputlines, one for each of the wires of a bundle of wires, coupled to saidconnector means; ten units output lines, one for each of the digits zeroto nine; ten tens output lines, one for each of the digits zero to nine;and selective coupling elements coupled between said input lines andsaid ten units and ten tens output lines whereby current on each of theinput lines is encoded as current on at least one of said units and oneof said tens output lines.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 6, further comprising tenhundreds output lines, one for each of the digits zero to nine; andadditional selective coupling means coupled between said input lines andsaid hundreds output lines whereby current one each of said input linesis encoded as current on at least one of said units, tens and hundredsoutput lines.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said display meanscomprises at least two numerical display tubes.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 6, wherein said display meanscomprises: two numerical display tubes, a first displaying the unitsdigits and the second displaying the tens digits; first coupling meanscoupling each of said ten units output lines of said encoding means to acorresponding input of said units digit display tube and second couplingmeans coupling each of the ten tens output lines of said encoding meansto a corresponding input of said tens digit display tube whereby twodecade numerical identifying indicia may be displayed when said currentpath is completed.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 7, wherein said display meanscomprises: three numerical display tubes, a first displaying the unitsdigits, a second displaying the tens digits and the third displaying thehundreds digits; first coupling means coupling each of said ten unitsoutput lines of said encoding means to a corresponding input of saidunits digit display tube; second coupling means coupling each of saidten tens digit output lines of said encoding means to a correspondinginput of said tens digit display tube and third coupling means couplingeach of said ten hundreds digit output lines of said encoding means to acorresponding input of said hundreds digit display tube whereby threedecade numerical identifying indicia may be displayed when said currentpath is completed 11. Apparatus for finding selected wires in a bundleof wires comprising connector means for receiving the first ends of thewires in a bundle of wires;

encoding means coupled to said connector means for assigning arbitraryidentifying indicia to each of the wires of a bundle of wires receivedat said connector means;

display means coupled to said encoding means for selectively displayingsaid arbitrary identifying indicia;

power supply means coupled to said encoding and display means;

a low level signal source coupled to said power supply means forproviding a low level signal; probe means coupled to said low levelsignal source to supply said low level signal to the second ends of thewires in a bundle having the first ends received at said connectormeans; said probe means including electrode means receiving said lowlevel signal and means for securing said electrode means to the body ofa user to permit said low level signal to pass through the body of auser to the second ends of the wires of a bundle of wires having thefirst ends received at said connector means to render the body of a useran extension of said probe means; said-encoding means detecting thepresence of said low level signal upon the completion of a circuit pathfrom said low level signal source through said probe means, the body ofa user, the wires in a bundle and said connector means to said encodingmeans; and I selectively operable selection means operable by a user toselect arbitrary identifying indicia for a wire to be found, saidselection means being coupled to said encoding means to inhibitoperation of said encoding means with respect to said arbitraryidentifying indicia other than said selected arbitrary identifyingindicia to render said display means operable to display only saidselected arbitrary identifying indicia whereby a user can use thefingers of a hand to touch the second ends of the wires of a bundle andsaid display means is operated only when a wire having said selectedarbitrary identifying indicia assigned thereto is touched by the user tocomplete a circuit path from said low level signal source through saidprobe means, the body of the user and said connector means to saidencoding means.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said securing meansincluding a strap carrying said electrode means for securing saidelectrode means to the body of a user in intimate contact with the skin.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 1 wherein said low level signalsource provides a low level, high frequency current, said securing meansincludes a strap carrying said electrode means for coupling saidelectrode means to the skin of a user, and said probe means includesconductor means coupled to said low level signal source and saidelectrode means for conducting said low level, high frequency currentfrom said low level signal source to said electrode means rendering thebody of a user a capacitive probe.

14. A method of identifying wires in a bundle of wires comprising thesteps of connecting a first end of each of the wires in the bundle withelectrical equipment including display means and encoding means, theencoding means connecting each of the wires to the display means suchthat the display means is operable to display arbitrary identifyingindicia for each wire; supplying a low level current from the electricalequipment to the body of a user; touching second ends of the wires inthe bundle with the fingers of a hand of the user to supply the lowlevel current through the body of the user and the touched wires to theencoding means; and displaying the arbitrary identifying indicia foreach touched wire on the display means. 15. A method for findingselected wires in a bundle of wires comprising the steps of connecting afirst end of each of the wires in the bundle with electrical equipmentincluding display means and encoding means, the encoding meansconnecting each of the wires to the display means such that the displaymeans is operable to display arbitrary identifying indicia for eachwire; selecting arbitrary identifying indicia assigned to a wire to befound;

inhibiting operation of the encoding means with respect to arbitraryidentifying indicia other than the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia so that only the selected arbitrary identifying indicia can bedisplayed by the display means;

supplying a low level current from the electrical equipment to the bodyof a user;

simultaneously touching second ends of a plurality of the wires in thebundle with the fingers of a hand of the user to supply the low levelcurrent through the body of the user and the plurality of touched wiresto the encoding means; and

displaying the selected arbitrary identifying indicia only when the wirehaving the selected arbitrary identifying indicia assigned thereto istouched by the user.

1. In apparatus for identifying an individual wire in a bundle of wiresof the type having connector means for receiving the first ends of thewires in a bundle of wires, encoding means coupled to said connectormeans for assigning arbitrary identifying indicia to each of the wiresof a bundle of wires at said connector means, display means coupled tosaid encoding means for selectively displaying said arbitraryidentifying indicia, and power supply means coupled to said encoding anddisplay means, the improvement comprising: a variable low level signalsource coupled to said power supply means for providing a low levelsignal; probe means coupled to said variable low level signal source forcoupling said low level signal to at least a portion of the body of auser for the selective transmission of said low level signal through thebody of a user to selective wires in said bundle touched by the body ofthe user to render the body an extension of said probe means; means forselectively varying the level of said variable low level signal source;said encoding means being arranged to detect the presence of said lowlevel signal upon the completion of a closed circuit path from said lowlevel signal source, through, said probe means, the body of a user, atleast one wire in a bundle of wires, and said connector means to saidencoding means wherein when a portion of the body of a user is broughtinto contact with the second end of a wire, a closed current conductingpath is established from said variable low level signal source, throughsaid probe means, the body of a user, a wire in a bundle of wires andsaid connector means to said encoding means to cause the arbitraryidentifying indicia assigned to such wire to be displayed; selectivelyoperable selection means coupled to said encoding means to permit saidencoding means to operate only with the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia and suppressing all others wherein only a selected arbitraryidentifying indicia is displayed by said display means when said currentpath is completed employing the individual wire in the wire bundleassigned the selected arbitrary identifying indicia; and amulti-position mode selection switch coupled to said power supply, saidselection means and said encoding means, said mode selection switchhaving a first position disabling said selection means to permit thearbitrary identifying indicia of any wire completing the current path tobe displayed and a second position selectively disabling said encodingmeans to permit the arbitrary identifying indicia of only a selectedwire to be displayed when it completes the current path.
 2. Theimprovement as defined in claim 1 wherein said multi-position modeselection switch has a third position uncoupling said probe means fromsaid power supply to display the arbitrary identifying indicia to whichsaid selection means has been operated.
 3. The improvement as defined inclaim 1, wherein said probe means further comprises: electrode meansarranged for intimate contact with the skin of the body of a user forimpressing thereupon said low level signal; coupling means for couplingsaid electrode means to the skin of the body of a user; and conductormeans coupled to said variable low level signal source and saidelectrode means for conducting said low level signal from said variablelow level signal source to said electrode means.
 4. The improvement asdefined in claim 1 wherein said probe means further comprises: aconductive electrode means arranged for intimate contact with the skinof the body of a user for impressing thereupon said low level signal; aninsulating strap coupled to said electrode means for attachment aboutthe wrist of the user to render the skin of the user from the wrist tothe finger tips selectively conductive of said variable low levelsignal; and conductor means coupled to said variable low level signalsource and said electrode means for conducting said low level signalfrom said variable low level signal source to said electrode means. 5.The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said variable low levelsignal source is a high frequency signal source; and said probe meansfurther comprises electrode means arranged for intimate contact with theskin of the body of a user for impressing thereupon a low level highfrequency signal generated by said high frequency signal source,coupling means for coupling said electrode means to the skin of a user,and conductor means coupled to said variable low level, high frequencysignal source and said electrode means for conducting said low level,high frequency signal from said variable low level, high frequencysignal source to said electrode means rendering said portion of the bodyof a user a capacitive probe.
 6. The improvement as defined in claim 1,wherein said encoding means is a matrix comprising: a plurality of inputlines, one for each of the wires of a bundle of wires, coupled to saidconnector means; ten units output lines, one for each of the digits zeroto nine; ten tens output lines, one for each of the digits zero to nine;and selective coupling elements coupled between said input lines andsaid ten units and ten tens output lines whereby current on each of theinput lines is encoded as current on at least one of said units and oneof said tens output lines.
 7. The improvement as defined in claim 6,further comprising ten hundreds output lines, one for each of the digitszero to nine; and additional selective coupling means coupled betweensaid input lines and said hundreds output lines whereby current one eachof said input lines is encoded as current on at least one of said units,tens and hundreds output lines.
 8. The improvement as defined in claim1, wherein said display means comprises at least two numerical displaytubes.
 9. The improvement as defined in claim 6, wherein said displaymeans comprises: two numerical display tubes, a first displaying theunits digits and the second displaying the tens digits; first couplingmeans coupling each of said ten units output lines of said encodingmeans to a corresponding input of said units digit display tube andsecond coupling means coupling each of the ten tens output lines of saidencoding means to a corresponding input of said tens digit display tubewhereby two decade numerical identifying indicia may be displayed whensaid current path is completed.
 10. The improvement as defined in claim7, wherein said display means comprises: three numerical display tubes,a first displaying the units digits, a second displaying the tens digitsand the third displaying the hundreds digits; first coupling meanscoupling each of said ten units output lines of said encoding means to acorresponding input of said units digit display tube; second couplingmeans coupling each of said ten tens digit output lines of said encodingmeans to a corresponding input of said tens digit display tube and thirdcoupling means coupling each of said ten hundreds digit output lines ofsaid encoding means to a corresponding input of said hundreds digitdisplay tube whereby three decade numerical identifying indicia may bedisplayed when said current path is completed.
 11. Apparatus for findingselected wires in a bundle of wires comprising connector means forreceiving the first ends of the wires in a bundle of wires; encodingmeans coupled to said connector means for assigning arbitraryidentifying indicia to each of the wires of a bundle of wires receivedat said connector means; display means coupled to said encoding meansfor selectively displaying said arbitrary identifying indicia; powersupply means coupled to said encoding and display means; a low levelsignal source coupled to said power supply means for providing a lowlevel signal; probe means coupled to said low level signal source tosupply said low level signal to the second ends of the wires in a bundlehaving the first ends received at said connector means; said probe meansincluding electrode means receiving said low level signal and means forsecuring said electrode means to the body of a user to permit said lowlevel signal to pass through the body of a user to the second ends ofthe wires of a bundle of wires having the first ends received at saidconnector means to render the body of a user an extension of said probemeans; said encoding means detecting the presence of said low levelsignal upon the completion of a circuit path from said low level signalsource through said probe means, the body of a user, the wires in abundle and said connector means to said encoding means; and selectivelyoperable selection means operable by a user to select arbitraryidentifying indicia for a wire to be found, said selection means beingcoupled to said encoding means to inhibit operation of said encodingmeans with respect to said arbitrary identifying indicia other than saidselected arbitrary identifying indicia to render said display meansoperable to display only said selected arbitrary identifying indiciawhereby a user can use the fingers of a hand to touch the second ends ofthe wires of a bundle and said display means is operated only when awire having said selected arbitrary identifying indicia assigned theretois touched by the user to complete a circuit path from said low levelsignal source through said probe means, the body of the user and saidconnector means to said encoding means.
 12. The apparatus as recited inclaim 11 wherein said securing means including a strap carrying saidelectrode means for securing said electrode means to the body of a userin intimate contact with the skin.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim11 wherein said low level signal source provides a low level, highfrequency current, said securing means includes a strap carrying saidelectrode means for coupling said electrode means to the skin of a user,and said probe means includes conductor means coupled to said low levelsignal source and said electrode means for conducting said low level,high frequency current from said low level signal source to saidelectrode means rendering the body of a user a capacitive probe.
 14. Amethod of identifying wires in a bundle of wires comprising the steps ofconnecting a first end of each of the wires in the bundle withelectrical equipment including display means and encoding means, theencoding means connecting each of the wires to the display means suchthat the display means is operable to display arbitrary identifyingindicia for each wire; supplying a low level current from the electricalequipment to the body of a user; touching second ends of the wires inthe bundle with the fingers of a hand of the user to supply the lowlevel current through the body of the user and the touched wires to theencoding means; and displaying the arbitrary identifying indicia foreach touched wire on the display means.
 15. A method for findingselected wires in a bundle of wires comprising the steps of connecting afirst end of each of the wires in the bundle with electrical equipmentincluding display means and encoding means, the encoding meansconnecting each of the wires to the display means such that the displaymeans is operable to display arbitrary identifying indicia for eachwire; selecting arbitrary identifying indicia assigned to a wire to befound; inhibiting operation of the encoding means with respect toarbitrary identifying indicia other than the selected arbitraryidentifying indicia so that only the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia can be displayed by the display means; supplying a low levelcurrent from the electrical equipment to the body of a user;simultaneously touching second ends of a plurality of the wires in thebundle with the fingers of a hand of the user to supply the low levelcurrent through the body of the user and the plurality of touched wiresto the encoding means; and displaying the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia only when the wire having the selected arbitrary identifyingindicia assigned thereto is touched by the user.